Treatment of hemangiomas of infancy

Mediastinal infantile hemangioma with spinal canal extension and extensive gastrointestinal involvement complicated by respiratory failure

Infantile hemangioma is the most common soft tissue tumor of infancy. Extensive organ involvement is rare. This report describes an infant with biopsy confirmed infantile hemangioma with diffuse organ involvement causing anemia and failure to thrive. Treatment was initiated with propranolol and led to initial improvement; however, course was complicated by several episodes of respiratory failure secondary to pulmonary edema. Propranolol therapy was interrupted for several months while patient was maintained on a diuretic regimen and treated with vincristine and high-dose corticosteroids. Patient was transitioned back to propranolol and is clinically thriving with objective improvement on radiographic imaging.

Safe and Effective Treatment of Intracranial Infantile Hemangiomas with Beta-Blockers

Infantile hemangiomas are common benign vascular tumors but are rarely found in an intracranial location. Our literature review identified 41 reported cases. There is no general consensus on management of these rare lesions and until recently, treatment was limited to surgery or pharmacological management with steroids or interferon. Although beta-blockers have been widely prescribed in the treatment of cutaneous infantile hemangiomas since 2008, their use in the treatment of intracranial infantile hemangiomas has been minimal. We present a case of infantile hemangioma affecting the right orbit, associated with intracranial extension, causing intermittent right facial nerve palsy. The patient achieved an excellent outcome following combined treatment with oral propranolol and topical timolol maleate 0.5%, with complete regression of the lesion by 4 months. We conclude that beta-blockers are a safe and effective treatment of intracranial infantile hemangiomas and can be employed as first-line management of these lesions.

Oral propranolol therapy in 23 infants with infantile hemangioma

Background

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common vascular tumor in pediatric patients, and is commonly treated with propranolol. We describe our experiences with dosage, response to treatment, and side effects in 23 IH patients treated with propranolol.

Methods

For this nonrandomized comparative cohort study, the authors enrolled 23 patients treated with propranolol. Photographs were taken before propranolol administration and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment. Treatment responses were objectively analyzed with a computer program.

Results

There were three male and 20 female patients. Common tumor locations were the head and neck (13 cases, 56.5%), trunk (four cases, 17.4%), extremities (three cases, 13.0%), and combined locations (three cases, 13.0%). The response to propranolol was significantly lower in patients with two or more lesions than in patients with a single lesion in terms of both color fading (P<0.001) and size reduction (P<0.001). In male patients (42.2±3.9), the change in a-values, indicating coloration, was higher than in female patients (19.8 ±13.8)(P<0.001). In patients who started treatment before 6 months after birth, the size reduction was greater than in their counterparts (62.3%; range, 3.0%–93.0% vs. 15.8%; range, 1.0%–79.0%; P<0.001).

Conclusions

Propranolol is an efficacious treatment with a good safety profile. In patients with a single lesion, the response to treatment was better in terms of color fading and size reduction. Furthermore, male patients responded better to propranolol treatment in terms of color fading than female patients, and starting treatment before 6 months after birth was more advantageous for size reduction.

Current perspectives on the optimal management of infantile hemangioma

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common benign tumor of infancy. As our understanding of their pathobiology has evolved, treatment has become more focused and tailored to specifically treat IH while minimizing adverse effects. Propranolol has gained FDA approval as the first medical therapy for a traditionally surgical disease. This review provides readers with an overview of IH, treatment modalities, and addresses specific considerations in IH disease management.

A randomized, controlled trial of oral propranolol in infantile hemangioma

BACKGROUND

Oral propranolol has been used to treat complicated infantile hemangiomas, although data from randomized, controlled trials to inform its use are limited.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, adaptive, phase 2-3 trial assessing the efficacy and safety of a pediatric-specific oral propranolol solution in infants 1 to 5 months of age with proliferating infantile hemangioma requiring systemic therapy. Infants were randomly assigned to receive placebo or one of four propranolol regimens (1 or 3 mg of propranolol base per kilogram of body weight per day for 3 or 6 months). A preplanned interim analysis was conducted to identify the regimen to study for the final efficacy analysis. The primary end point was success (complete or nearly complete resolution of the target hemangioma) or failure of trial treatment at week 24, as assessed by independent, centralized, blinded evaluations of standardized photographs.

RESULTS

Of 460 infants who underwent randomization, 456 received treatment. On the basis of an interim analysis of the first 188 patients who completed 24 weeks of trial treatment, the regimen of 3 mg of propranolol per kilogram per day for 6 months was selected for the final efficacy analysis. The frequency of successful treatment was higher with this regimen than with placebo (60% vs. 4%, P<0.001). A total of 88% of patients who received the selected propranolol regimen showed improvement by week 5, versus 5% of patients who received placebo. A total of 10% of patients in whom treatment with propranolol was successful required systemic retreatment during follow-up. Known adverse events associated with propranolol (hypoglycemia, hypotension, bradycardia, and bronchospasm) occurred infrequently, with no significant difference in frequency between the placebo group and the groups receiving propranolol.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial showed that propranolol was effective at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram per day for 6 months in the treatment of infantile hemangioma. (Funded by Pierre Fabre Dermatologie; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01056341.).

Complications of infantile hemangiomas

Most infantile hemangiomas have a spontaneous and uneventful involution and, hence, may be treated expectantly. Others, however, will present some complication along their evolution that may require prompt therapeutic interventions. Ulceration is the most common complication, and amblyopia is frequently associated with periocular tumors. Airways hemangiomas may be life-threatening, and disfigurement can heavily impact the patient's quality of life.

Approach to the patient with an infantile hemangioma

Infantile hemangioma is the most common soft tissue tumor of childhood. Despite its frequency, it has only been in the last decade that these lesions have been better characterized and become the subject of significant clinical and translational research. Although most infantile hemangiomas are uncomplicated and do not require intervention, they can be a significant source of parental distress, cosmetic disfigurement, and morbidity. The wide spectrum of disease in the morphology of these lesions and in their behavior has made it difficult to predict the need for treatment and has made it challenging to establish a standardized approach to management.

Management of infantile hemangiomas : current and potential pharmacotherapeutic approaches

Infantile hemangiomas (IH), benign vascular neoplasms, are the most common tumors of infancy and childhood. Most IH are medically insignificant; however, a proportion will require treatment because of interference with vital structures, threat of significant disfigurement, ulceration, or bleeding. This article reviews current and potential pharmacotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of IH. While corticosteroids have long been considered the mainstay of medical therapy for IH, several new treatments have recently emerged, the most promising of which is oral propranolol. Topical timolol and imiquimod are additional new therapies that may also prove to be effective, particularly for the treatment of superficial IH.

Initiation and use of propranolol for infantile hemangioma: report of a consensus conference

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are common neoplasms composed of proliferating endothelial-like cells. Despite the relative frequency of IH and the potential severity of complications, there are currently no uniform guidelines for treatment. Although propranolol has rapidly been adopted, there is significant uncertainty and divergence of opinion regarding safety monitoring, dose escalation, and its use in PHACE syndrome (PHACE = posterior fossa, hemangioma, arterial lesions, cardiac abnormalities, eye abnormalities; a cutaneous neurovascular syndrome characterized by large, segmental hemangiomas of the head and neck along with congenital anomalies of the brain, heart, eyes and/or chest wall). A consensus conference was held on December 9, 2011. The multidisciplinary team reviewed existing data on the pharmacologic properties of propranolol and all published reports pertaining to the use of propranolol in pediatric patients. Workgroups were assigned specific topics to propose protocols on the following subjects: contraindications, special populations, pretreatment evaluation, dose escalation, and monitoring. Consensus protocols were recorded during the meeting and refined after the meeting. When appropriate, protocol clarifications and revision were made and agreed upon by the group via teleconference. Because of the absence of high-quality clinical research data, evidence-based recommendations are not possible at present. However, the team agreed on a number of recommendations that arose from a review of existing evidence, including when to treat complicated IH; contraindications and pretreatment evaluation protocols; propranolol use in PHACE syndrome; formulation, target dose, and frequency of propranolol; initiation of propranolol in infants; cardiovascular monitoring; ongoing monitoring; and prevention of hypoglycemia. Where there was considerable controversy, the more conservative approach was selected. We acknowledge that the recommendations are conservative in nature and anticipate that they will be revised as more data are made available.

Infantile hemangiomas, complications and follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To study the risk factors for hemangioma-related complications, treatment indications and analyze the outcome of patients with infantile hemangioma.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

Fifty-five patients (1-69 months; median: 12 months) with infantile hemangioma with mean follow-up 19 months. The eligibility was based on the criteria of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA).

INTERVENTION

The surgical treatment included total excision whereas medical treatment was carried out by interferon and /or corticosteroids.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Data was collected including sex, age, prematurity, age at onset, number, anatomic location and size of hemangioma, age at treatment, cause of treatment decision, family history, presence of extra malformations, involvement of internal organs, presence of life altering or life threatening complications, response to treatment, dose and duration of medications, complications associated with treatment, follow-up period, and final outcome.

RESULTS

Thirty-four (62%) patients were followed-up without treatment, whereas 21 others underwent treatment including steroids, interferon, and surgery. The size of hemangioma was a major factor that predicted hemangioma-related complications (P=0.002). Patients with hemangioma related complications had bigger lesions (size >40 cm² or the longest size on a single plane >5 cm). Nineteen patients (34%) had complications, but only 8 (14.5%) out of them had life or function-threatening complications.

CONCLUSION

Although dosing and treatment protocol is still debatable, steroids and interferon are good options for hemangioma treatment. The management strategy should be individualized for each case.

Isolation, characterization, and in vitro propagation of infantile hemangioma stem cells and an in vivo mouse model

Background

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common benign tumors of infancy. The typical clinical course consists of rapid growth during the first year of life, followed by natural and gradual involution over a multi-year time span through unknown cellular mechanisms. Some tumors respond to medical treatment with corticosteroids or beta-blockers, however, when this therapy fails or is incomplete, surgical extirpation may be necessary. Noninvasive therapies to debulk or eliminate these tumors would be an important advance. The development of an in vitro cell culture system and an animal model would allow new insights into the biological processes involved in the development and pathogenesis of IH.

Results

We observed that proliferative stage IH specimens contain significantly more SALL4+ and CD133+ cells than involuting tumors, suggesting a possible stem cell origin. A tumor sphere formation assay was adapted to culture IH cells in vitro. Cells in IH tumor spheres express GLUT1, indicative of an IH cell of origin, elevated levels of VEGF, and various stem/progenitor cell markers such as SALL4, KDR, Oct4, Nanog and CD133. These cells were able to self-renew and differentiate to endothelial lineages, both hallmarks of tumor stem cells. Treatment with Rapamycin, a potent mTOR/VEGF inhibitor, dramatically suppressed IH cell growth in vitro. Subcutaneous injection of cells from IH tumor spheres into immunodeficient NOD-SCID mice produced GLUT1 and CD31 positive tumors with the same cellular proliferation, differentiation and involution patterns as human hemangiomas.

Conclusions

The ability to propagate large numbers of IH stem cells in vitro and the generation of an in vivo mouse model provides novel avenues for testing IH therapeutic agents in the future.

Management of lip hemangiomas: Minimizing peri-oral scars

PURPOSE

Hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor of infancy, affecting females more than males. Lip hemangiomas are of particular concern because of their relatively increased risk to ulcerate during the proliferative period. Ulcerated hemangiomas of the lip can lead to increased scarring, loss of lip contour, and disfigurement. Most will require surgical correction to restore normal labial anatomy.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review between 2004 and 2010 for surgically treated lip hemangiomas was performed. Demographic data, location of the hemangioma, age at operation, and number of operations were recorded. Two independent observers evaluated lip appearance post-operatively using 5-point scales to examine scar, symmetry, contour, and color, with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2010, eleven patients underwent surgical correction. Ten of the eleven were female. 18% (2/11) were ulcerated. One third (4/11) was in the upper lip and two-thirds (7/11) were in the lower lip. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 3.6 years (range, 14 months to 17 years). The average number of operations per patient was 1.6 (range, 1-3). The average scores for lip appearance after surgical correction ranged between 3.95 (good) for lip contour to 4.5 (good to excellent) for color.

CONCLUSIONS

Lip hemangiomas often require surgical correction. Treatment goals include restoration of normal lip contour and strategic placement of the incision. By taking advantage of the natural involution that occurs and careful planning, procedures can be staged to minimize distortion of the lip. Even lip hemangiomas that cross the vermilio-cutaneous (VC) junction can be excised and lip contour achieved without the need to extend scars beyond the VC junction.

Infantile hemangioma

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common soft tissue tumors of childhood. The wide spectrum of disease has made it difficult to predict need for treatment and has made it challenging to establish a standardized approach to management. This article provides the reader with an up-to-date discussion of IH, identifying features of this condition which predict need for treatment as well as associated complications and reviewing management.

Infantile hemangioma is originated from placental trophoblast, fact or fiction?

Infantile hemangiomas are common, benign tumors, distinctive for their perinatal presentation, rapid growth and subsequent involution. Hemangiomas can pose serious concerns to the cosmetic and psychosocial development of the afflicted child, but none of the current therapeutic modalities is ideal to date, partly because the origin of the pathogenic ECs in infantile hemangioma is unknown. Many clues and evidences suggest a link between infantile hemangiomas and the maternal placental trophoblasts. Shared expression of distinct endothelial markers in hemangioma and placental tissues raises a possibility that infantile hemangioma is originated from placental trophoblast. Moreover, the findings of a very high similarity between the transcriptomes of placenta and hemangioma provide strong support for this theory. Furthermore, epidemiologic and clinical evidences accumulated in recent years also suggest the placental trophoblast as the cell of origin for infantile hemangioma. These findings imply a unique relationship between hemangioma and the placental trophoblast and suggest a hypothesis that infantile hemangioma is originated from placental trophoblast. The hypothesis could provide new understanding of these vascular tumors of childhood and may become the most promising research fields for the etiology of infantile hemangiomas. Further study of the precise mechanisms for the placental trophoblast originated hemangiomas will produce new preventive strategies and therapeutic avenues, possibly immunologic treatment, to the very difficult problem.

Possibilities and potential roles of estrogen in the pathogenesis of proliferation hemangiomas formation

Hemangiomas, often categorized as angiogenic diseases, are the most common tumors of infancy, the life span of which is generally divided into proliferating phase, involuting phase, and involuted phase. Despite their high prevalence, the mechanism leading to proliferation hemangiomas formation is poorly understood and the best approach to their management remains controversial. None of the current therapeutic modalities is ideal, partly because the pathogenesis of hemangioma and the mechanism of its proliferation are far from clear. Many clues reveal that estrogen has an important role in developing the vascular system, experimental and clinical evidences accumulated in recent years also suggest the potential for estrogen to influence neovascularization. Based on those, we hypothesize that estrogen play a potential role in the development of hemangiomas, mainly by regulating some key angiogenic factors, including MMP-9, EPCs, VEGF, NO, etc. Accepting the hypothesis to be correct, a therapy that identify estrogen as a potential target for the design of new, more specific treatments can be used to prevent the proliferation hemangiomas formation. The hypothesis may lead a new direction in the study of mechanisms for proliferation hemangiomas formation, and further study of the precise mechanisms for estrogen-induced hemangiomas will produce effective antiestrogens and estrogen receptor antagonists as new medication for the very difficult problem.